Railway truck



Feb. 2.1937.

G. F. COUCH RAILWAY TRUCK Filed NOV. 2, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 2, 1937. d. F. coucH RAILWAY TRUCK Filed NOV. 2, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 atenteti eio. 2,

nir rar e. hun! -Application. November 2, 1934, Serial No. 751,202

15 Claims.

This invention relates to railway vehicles and, more particularly, to the construction of the side frames, bolsters and spring nests thereof for supporting such bolsters from said frames.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the development of a railway truck in which the side frames thereof are quickly detachable and in which the ultimate load application to said frames is close enough to the journal boxes to materially reduce the bending moments.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a railway truck in which the bolsters are supported from the side frames thereof by both coil and -leaf springs, the points of support of said springs on said frames being outwardly spaced from the transverse central planes of said frames to reduce the bending moments thereon.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a railway truck in which the ends of the bolster are received in frames or rest on saddles which are,in turn, supported by leaf or semielliptic springs therebeneath and coil or helical springs at the sides thereof, said leaf springs having their ends supported beneath the guide columns and said columns diverging downwardly and serving to support and partially house said coil springs.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a railway truck in which the bolster is supported by both coil and leaf springs, and in which provision is made for relative angling between said bolster and the journal boxes asociated with said frames, either by movement between the boxes and frames, or by movement between the frames and bolster.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of a bolster of a railway truck, the ends of which engage frames which are, in turn, supported by springs from the side frames, said bolster being locked in position with respect to said frames by means insertable from below and preventing disengagement of said bolster from said frames while allowing a desired amount of angling therebetween. K

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will be made apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:-

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation and partial central longitudinal sectional view of a fragmentary portion of a railway truck embodying my invention.

(Cl. 10S-197.1)

Fig. 2 is a partial plan of the truck shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

' 5 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on the line li-'ll of Fig. 2,1ooking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation and partial central longitudinal sectional view of a fragmentary portion of a vrailway truck illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view corresponding to Fig. 6, but showing the bolster in elevated position while being connected or disconnected with respect to the associated frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and rst considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, there is shown a portion of a railway vehicle or truck comprising side frames i, only one of which is illustrated, each side frame having a compression member or portion 2, a tension4 member or portion 3, and spaced connecting struts, bolster guide columns, or portions f3 spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members, and leaving a bolster or window opening 5 therebetween.

The tension member 3 beneath the window opening is formed with horizontal shelves or abutment portions 6 normally engaged by the ends of the leaf or semi-elliptic spring 'l disposed in the lower portion of the window opening 5 and, in turn, supporting a frame or saddle member 8 having a downwardly opening pocket 9 receiving the upper portion of the spring band I0, thereby preventing undesired displacement therebetween.

The saddle member 8 has a normally horizontal portion il on which rests the* adjacent end of the bolster I2 and side portions I3 normally embracing the end portion of the bolster therebetween and embraced between front and rear guide lugs it and I5 on said bolster, thereby serving to hold the bolster assembled therewith.

The extremities of the U-shaped saddle 8 are provided with curved bearing portions i6 which engage cooperatively curved bearing portions il on upper spring caps I8 of coil or helical springs I9. Said springs I9 are, in turn, -supported on lower caps 2li curved bearing surfaces 2i .receiving transverse abutment portions 22 which connect the flanges 23 of the U-shaped columns 4 and are provided withA correspondinglycurved upper surfaces 24.

` On account of the columnslbeing U-shaped and the springs I3 being supported on integral por- 10 tions which connect the sides or iianges thereof,

said columns serve toA partially house said springs as well as the end portions of the semi-elliptic springs 1 which extend between the flanges 23 of said guide columns. In the present embodiment,

said columns I diverge downwardly and outwardly and the springs I3 have a corresponding inclination. -This construction facilitates assembly of the parts and makes it possible to use a semi-elliptic spring 1 of the desired length.

Upon the load on the bolster I2 varying, the

springs 1 and I Bare compressed to a greater or less extent and the saddle 8 moves up or down between the guiding portions of said columns,

lateral movement of said saddle with respect to 25 said columns being limited by the flanges 226 of said saddle received between the anges 23 of the guide columns I, the portions of said saddle adjacent and laterally outward of said flanges 26 forming ribs engaging the guiding portions 25 30 for limiting longitudinal movement.

The frame I has jaws at its ends providing downwardly opening pockets 21 receiving'separable journal boxes 2B. Provision is made for angling of the journal boxes with respect to the frame without loss of bearing area in the jaws by forming the inner surfaces of said jaws cylindrically concave, as indicated at 23, andthe corresponding surfaces of the box correspondingly convex, as indicated at 30, thereby providing for 4o the desired ilexibility of the truck. l

From the foregoing disclosure, it willfjbe seen that I may employ a standard bolster I2 inasmuch as the columns 4 are spread apart vsufficiently to allow the sides I3 of the saddle 3 to be interposed between the sides of the bolster and the guiding portions 25 of the guide columns. Disconnction o f the frames from the bolster is readily permitted, as will be understood, by raising the bolster and saddle sufficiently to permit removal of the springs and then droppingthe saddle so as to allow the frames to be removed from the ends of the bolster. The abutment portions 22 are desirably spaced a distance greater 4than the maximum dimension of the saddle longitudinally of the frame so that said saddle may be dropped between said abutments on removing the spring 1, without interference.

In order to prevent undesirable lateral shifting of the spring 1, the abutment portions 6 which the ends of said spring engage are desirably provided with lugs 3l receiving the ends of the spring therebetween. It will be noted that I doi not show a spring plank, but such may, of course, be used, if desired. It will also be noted that the 05 journal boxes, only one of which is illustrated, may be locked inplace in any desired manner, as by means of latches 32, as shown.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, there is shown a portion of a railway vehicle or truck comprising side frames la, only one of which is illustrated, each sideframe having a v compression member 2B, a tension member 3a, andrspaced connecting columns 4B spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tendesired displacement therebetween.

supporting member 3, in the present embodision members and leaving a. bolster orwindow opening i therebetween.

'I'he tension member 3a beneath the window opening is, as in the previous embodiment, formed with shelves 6a normally engaged by the ends 5 of the leaf or semi-elliptic spring 1a disposed in the lower portion of the window opening 5 and, in turn, supporting a framdhaving a. downwardly opening pocket 9a receiving the upper portion of the spring band IIia for preventing unl0 The bolster ment, ,is formed as a generally rectangular frame rather than a U-shapedsaddle, `thereby greatly increasing vthe strength against bending forces. l5 Said member 3a has a normally horizontal portion I I on which rests the adjacent end oi' the bolster I 2B, and side portions I3 normally embracing the end portions of the bolster therebetween and engaged by rear guide lugs I5a on said bolster. 20 'Ihe upper ends of the side portions I3'L of the frame Ila are joined by the upper normally horizontal portion 33, the end portions of which are provided with curved bearing lugs IIi which engage, cooperatively curved bearing portions I1a 25 on upper spring caps I8 of coil or helical springs I9, Said springs |91i are, in turn, supported on lower caps 20 desirably formed and supported as in the preceding embodiment on abutment portions 22a which connect the flanges 238L of 30 the guide \columns BB.

As-in the preceding embodiment, the columns partly house the coil springs` and the ends of the semi-elliptic spring and diverge downwardly and outwardly, the springs I9 having a correspond- 35 ing inclination, thereby facilitating assembly and disconnection of the parts, as explained in connection with the preceding embodiment. The frame 3 guides the end of the bolster and is, in tuin-guided by the guiding portions 25 of the 40 col if, as in the preceding embodiment.

In the present embodiment, I contemplate the provision "f vjournal boxes integral with the end portions ,of the frame, which journal boxes and end portions are not shown, as they may be 'of 45 conventional construction. Flexibility of the truck is effected at the connection between the bolster and frame rather thanV at the connections between the journal boxes and frame, said exibility being provided by forming the surfaces of 50 the bolster I2, which are engaged by the upright portions I3a of the frame 8a, cylindrical and the'corresponding surfaces of said portions I3 curved to correspond, the axis of said 'cylindrical surfaces being in the central longitudinal 55 vertical plane of the bolster. The cylindrical bolster surfaces are designated by the reference character 33, and the corresponding cooperating frame surfaces by the reference character, 35. The surfaces 34 and 35 terminate at their outer 6o ends in portions 36 and 31 which together provide cylindrical pockets receiving locking members 38. Each locking member desirably comprises a normally vertical cylindrical body 33 and a lower laterally extending lug 40, and is initially 65 inserted, as illustrated in Figure 9, with the lug extending outward, the frame 8a being provided with an elongated aperture adapted to receive said body and lug portions. When the locking member 33 has been inserted so that the 70 lug 40 lies above the horizontal portion I Ia of the frame, the lug is then turned so as to point inward or toward the other locking member (not illustrated), while the bolster is elevated, as ilillustrated in Figure 9, so that when the bolster iS dropped to position, as shown in Figure 6, the lug portion d0 is received in a pocket 2 in the lower surface of the bolster and securely held in place. Suiicient clearance is provided between the locking members 38 and the bolster to allow for the desired exibility or angling in a horizontal plane between said bolster H2B and frame 8a while preventing undesired displacement or withdrawal of the bolster.

From the foregoing disclosure. it will be seen that I do not propose Vto employ a standard bolster in the embodiment of Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, on account of the provision for angling of said bolster with respect to the supporting frame. The parts of this embodiment may be assembled and disconnected as described in connection with the rst embodiment, with the exception of the connection and .disconnection of the bolster with respect to the supporting frame 8a -which is effected by the use of the latches, previously described, rather than by the mere tting together of the bolster and saddle member, in accordance with the rst embodiment.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, it Will be understood that modiiications may be made within-the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will also be understood that the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, may correspond with that of the rst embodiment except as specilically described as being diierent. It will also be understood that although this embodiment may involve journal boxes integral with the side frames yet, if desired, separate journal boxes may instead be employed asin connection with the rst embodiment.

I claim:-

1. 'In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, spring means disposed in the lower portion of said opening and spanning the distance between said columns, other spring means supported directly by said frame and disposed directly above the end portions of said iirst-mentioned spring means, and a bolster disposed above said iirst-4 mentioned spring means and between said second-mentioned spring means and resiliently supported by both.

2. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns extending diagonally upward and toward one another from said tension member, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, spring means disposed in the lower portion of said opening, other spring means disposed above said rst-mentioned spring means, at least partially housed in said columns, and acting diagonally upward and toward one another, and a bolster disposed above said iirst-mentioned spring means and between said second-mentioned spring means and resiliently supported by both.

3. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving va bolster opening therebetween, a semi-elliptic s; ring disposed in the lower portion of said opening and spanning the distance between said columns, helical springs acting directly on said columns and disposed directly above the end portions of said semi-elliptic spring, and a bolster disposed above said semi-elliptic spring and between said helical springs and reslliently supported by both.

4. In a railway truck, in combination, la side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a spring supported by said frame and disposed in the lower portion of said opening, with its ends housed in said guide columns, springs disposed above the ends of said rst-mentioned spring and partially housed in, and directly supported by, said columns, and a bolster with an end portion received in said opening and supported bymeans of all of said springs acting in parallel.

5. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns which extend diagonally downward and outward from said compression member to said tension member, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a spring supported by said frame and disposed in the lower portion of said opening with its ends housed in said guide columns, springs disposed above the ends of said first-mentioned spring and partially housed in said columns, and a bolster with an end portion received in said opening,` and supported by all of said springs.

6. In`a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a spring supported on said' tension member and other springs directly supported on said columns, a frame supported in turn by all of said springs acting in a generally upward direction, andl a bolster resting on said frame." r

7. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a semi-elliptic spring supported by means of said tension member, coil springs directly supported by means of said columns and with their axes disposed generally parallel to the axes of the associated columns, a frame-member supported in turn by all of said springs, and a bolster resting on said frame member.

8. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a semi-elliptic spring supported on said tension member and provided with a spring band, a casting with a downwardly opening pocket receiving the upper portion of said band and supported by said spring, said casting having side portions, a bolster resting on said casting and formed with lugs embracing said side portions for holding said bolster in place, said side portions having upper outwardly extending portions, and coil springs acting on said upper portions to serve as additional means for supporting the bolster, said guide columns having transverse portions disposed above the ends of said semi-elliptic spring and serving to support said coil springs.

9. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension y respect to said guide columns and engaging said side portions.

10. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tensionr members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a spring supported by means of said tension member, a casting resting on said spring, a bolster resting on said casting, said casting having sides extending upwardly from the ends of a normally horizontal bolster supporting portion and\ embracing said bolster therebetween, the inner sairfaces 'of said sides and the adjacent surfaces of said bolster being coaxially curved to allow for relative horizontal angling therebetween, said casting having portions extending outwardly from itssides, and springs supportingly engaging said outwardly extending portions and supported by abutments disposed at an elevation xed with respect to said frame.

11. Ina railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a spring supported by means of said tension member, a casting resting on said spring and a bolster resting on said casting, said casting having sides extending upwardly from the ends of a'nornrally horizontal bolstersupporting portion and embracing said bolster therebetween, the inner surfaces of said sides and the adjacent surfaces of said bolster being coaxially curved to allow for relative horizontal angling therebetween, said sides having outward extensions disposed between portions of said guide columns, and springs partially housed in said columns, supported thereby, and acting on said extensions to assist in the support of said bolster..

' 12. In a railway truck, in combination, a' side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening-therebetweenl a casting disposed in said opening-springs supported on said frame and, in"turn,`s'upporting said casting, and a bolster supported on said cast` ing, the latter having sides, extending upwardly from the ends of a normally horizontal portion directly underlying saidbolster, and embracing said bolster therebetween, the inner surfaces of said sides and theadjacent surfaces of said bolster being coaxially curved to allow for relative l horizontal angling therebetween, said surfaces merging at their outer edges into concave surfaces defining a generally cylindrical aperture, and a frame formed with compression and tension mmbers spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween,

a bolster supporting casting disposed in said open- 14. In a, railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, resilient means supported on said lframe, a casting resting on said resilient means and having sides extending upwardly from the ends of a normally horizontal bolster-,supporting portion and embracing said bolster therebetween, the inner surfaces of said sides and the adjacent surface of said bolster being coaxially curved to allow for relative horizontal angling therebetween, the ends of said frame having downwardlyopening jaws dening pockets, journal boxes received in said pockets, the portionsl of said jaws dening the sides of said pockets and the adjacent sides of said boxes being coaxially curved to allow for horizontal angling between said boxes and frame to correspond with the angling permitted between said bolster and the supporting casting.

15.v In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compressionand tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, resilient means supported on said frame, a casting resting on said resilient means and a. bolster resting on said casting, said casting having sides extending upwardly from the ends of a. normally horizontal bolster-supporting portion and embracing said bolster therebetween, the inner surfacesof said sides and the adjacent surfaces of said bolster being coaxially curved to allow for relative horizontal angling therebetween, said casting having ange portions extending longitudinally of the vframe and away from said bolster, said guide columns having ange portions extending longitudinally toward said bolster and embracing said casting flange portions therebetween, the latter flange portions having ribs extending outwardly and laterally of the side frame and overlying the inner edges of said guide column iianges to provide for holding said casting in place between said guide columns while allowing for vertical movement thereof.

GLENN F. COUCH. 

